Sleeping On The Wing
Perhaps it is to avoid some great sadness,
as in a Restoration tragedy the hero cries 'Sleep!
O for a long sound sleep and so forget it! '
that one flies, soaring above the shoreless city,
veering upward from the pavement as a pigeon
does when a car honks or a door slams, the door
of dreams, life perpetuated in parti-colored loves
and beautiful lies all in different languages.
Fear drops away too, like the cement, and you
are over the Atlantic. Where is Spain? where is
who? The Civil War was fought to free the slaves,
was it? A sudden down-draught reminds you of gravity
and your position in respect to human love. But
here is where the gods are, speculating, bemused.
Once you are helpless, you are free, can you believe
that? Never to waken to the sad struggle of a face?
to travel always over some impersonal vastness,
to be out of, forever, neither in nor for!
The eyes roll asleep as if turned by the wind
and the lids flutter open slightly like a wing.
The world is an iceberg, so much is invisible!
and was and is, and yet the form, it may be sleeping
too. Those features etched in the ice of someone
loved who died, you are a sculptor dreaming of space
and speed, your hand alone could have done this.
Curiosity, the passionate hand of desire. Dead,
or sleeping? Is there speed enough? And, swooping,
you relinquish all that you have made your own,
the kingdom of your self sailing, for you must awake
and breathe your warmth in this beloved image
whether it's dead or merely disappearing,
as space is disappearing and your singularity
poem by Frank O'Hara
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Sleep Forever
Down I lie
Sleeping all day
Still asleep for years
Surrounded by tears
Of friends, relations and further
But still sleep, sleep and sleep forever.
My eyes all closed extremely shut
My body is dry, straight and flat
As I lie in wooden house
Helpless like a dead mouse
Alone with no any other
As I sleep, sleep and sleep forever.
In my best black suit
My voice on mute
Waiting for the judgement
In a new environment
Coping with underground weather
As I sleep, sleep and sleep forever.
I've left all my worth
And ignored all my breath
Tell that I slept to each and every head
For that's a polite word to me as the dead
To come back I'll never
It's a sleep, sleep and sleep forever.
poem by Walani Ndhlovu
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Autopilot
I can sleep, but I won't rest
I'll try to rest, but I'll only sleep
My dreams were once my escape
My nights held my happy days
Awake, I was depresed
Alseep, I had energy
I'd cry myself to sleep
Then I'd cry no more
Spreading my wings
I'd laugh under night's sun
Flying around the world
I'd make a hundred friends
Throwing fire and ice
I'd defeat all my enemies
Then I would wake up
And happiness fled
Walking through autopilot
In a world that wasn't real
Looking but never seeing
I'd cry under day's moon
Existing but never living
I'd avoid everyone
Closing my eyes
I'd hide from any enemies
I once rested
In the chaos of my dreams
The loud sleeping happiness
Was better than the quiet waking sadness
But things have changed
In a moment, a lifetime
Awake, I am content
Asleep, I am upset
If I sleep, I dream
When I dream, I fear
Running in terror
Crying in death
I see faces unkown
And know pain unfelt
I once looked for sleep to find rest
Now I avoid sleep so not to lose rest
My heaven became my hell
My hallucination became my shelter
I do not sleep, I do not rest
Tired, but I am happy
A new kind of autopilot
Which existance is worse?
Awake, I fear sleep coming
Asleep, I cannot wake
Never resting, only existing
Life on autopilot
poem by Juvela Obi
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Widow's Walk
Dead men tell no lies, nor speak of loved ones lost.
Retrieving faded memories.
What price?
What cost?
Barter for time, go back when, pirates bootie if I obtained.
For answers to questions why?
A bribe to ease the pain.
Lost forever, gone away.
I walk the widow's walk.
Gazing out upon the sea, with god's speed and to whom I talk.
I ask of him your safe return, from the oceans deep.
In my heart I long for you, keeping me from sleep.
Fore if I do, dose away, restless nights do creep.
Through open window I hear calling, sea breezes part the drape.
Wash ashore to my dismay, bottle, they retrieve.
Letter lost, years afloat, no longer do I grieve.
Dearest one, truest love, I part from you this day.
Ship wreck, far from shore, my love I must convey.
Waited five and twenty more, I read the words you scribed.
Waken by harsh cries of gull's, mocking, in dreams, was denied.
Along the widow's walk, look out, eyes fixed upon the horizon.
And as always.
My request.
My plea.
With gods speed, may you return.
Grant me restful sleep.
poem by Gary Kedron
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Sometimes I Miss You
I want to sleep
That deep tranquil sleep
Where I dream
And in my dreams
I see you again
See you the way you were before we broke
See you in all the ways that made me love you
I turn in my bed
My eyes flutter open
I see you
On the side of the bed where you always slept
Reach out in my semi-conscious state
And feel nothing
I think I groan in sadness
And the let the waves of unconsciousness take me under
Where I dream
And remember all the ways you loved me
All the little things that meant so much
See you the way I use to when I loved you
See you the way you were before you hurt me
I love to sleep
And in that deep restful slumber
I am at peace
Still feel your arms around me
Still feel your breath on my neck
Still feel the warmth of your body
I turn in my bed
My eyes flutter open
I think I hear your laughter
Feel your hands caress my face
I don't think I still love you
Why would I
What good would it do
No, I don't want to hurt you
I have no ill will towards you
There are things I my not understand
Answers I will never have
'Why? '
Is a question that may never be answered
Does this dance between us have to end
It did
The music died long before we stopped moving
I'll be all right
It's just sometimes
That I miss you.
poem by Rabia Minhas
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How can you sleep like sleeping?
You can not ever sleep like sleeping
Only seeing in the deep and endless sky
Taking deep sigh and drinking poison
With your all arrogance and pride high
In your eyes I see the waves of the ocean
Making low and high tides with the sound
Of roaring and with a raw burning, the Pacific
Left calm less and to raise trouble ruffled
Writhing with unbearable pain heart and spleen
How can you sleep like sleeping?
When you close your eyes you see the bird
Can not fly with an arrow pierced the heart
On the ground helpless lie, when you open
Your eyes, see, pain has been washed away
By the little drops of the dew of the night.
The more unknown becomes the world,
The known face moves strange around.
From the wounds blood still dripping
How can you sleep like sleeping?
poem by Abdul Wahab
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Dreaming While You Sleep
In and out of darkness, in and out of sleep
Trying to keep my hands upon the wheel.
Never saw the corner in the driving rain.
I never saw her step into the street.
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Memories to keep
Dreaming while you sleep
I can never understand what went thru my mind
I didnt stop to see what I had done.
Had to keep on driving deep into the night
The miles between would somehow put it right
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Memories to keep
Dreaming while you sleep
All my life you lie silently there
All my life in a world so unfair
All my life and only Ill know why
And it will live inside of me,
I will never be free all my life,
Trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes,
Please open your eyes
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Heard it on the radio, saw it on tv,
But could I take my secret to the grave.
If I had another chance, would I do the same.
Would I still deny that it was me.
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep
Dreaming while you sleep,
Are you dreaming while you sleep?
All my life Ill be haunted by
All my life just one moment in time
All my life until the day I die
And it will live inside of me
Oh I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes
All of my life - you lie silently there
All my life - in a world so unfair
All my life - and only I know why
And it will live inside of me
I will never be free all my life
Trapped in her memory - all my life
Till the day that you open your eyes.
All of my life.
Just one moment of time, all my life.
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In the spirit of Rumi - 47 - A Confession of Love Withheld
Now with surprise and sadness, I have realised–
I do not love you as much as I thought…
When you are beside me
in the bed when I awake
I whisper with my waking breath
to your open or your sleeping eyes,
‘I love you’…and in that,
I find myself…
But when you are far away
my first involuntary waking thought
is not of you, or love, or God
Who guided me through the night,
Who taught me to enjoy
His great invention, sleep…
but of myself…
myself and world as two
and I am lost to myself…
and know, I have not yet
surrendered all my mind and will
to God…
O My Beloved
how can I love you fully, as God loves, when
I do not yet see God
in every waking moment
in myself?
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Early Morning Daydream
Its six o’clock in the morning
and the rain is tapping on my windowpane.
I’ve got up because I couldn’t sleep
for a little space of my own.
Fed our cats, so I could sit in the quiet
and not be bothered by anything.
Letting my mind slide into a dream.
I feel the pull of another world
and not the one I’m living in,
of relaxing in a far off land
surrounded by old friends.
Somewhere I could sit down
and talk away the hours at a long leisurely pace.
Reminisce of the things we’ve done,
both happy and sad.
Enjoying a rest bite from the world
that in which we have to live
and when my eye lids get heavy
as sleep want to approach
I could bit everyone goodnight
and scuttle of to bed
disappearing from that imaginary world
and awake in reality.
Wondering if when I close my eyes again
will I once again visit them?
17 January 2009
poem by David Harris
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Sweet Home
My home is calling
And my heart; responding
The abode of pleasures and exhilaration
Where my mind prepares for some missions
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
Am not among those who cry
Seeking for hope, but it's dry
Am a free man
Facing difficulties which is so hard
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
Do i look like a convict?
The one who cries in the prison
Or like the bee that flies
And returns with joy to it hive
No! But no! I am not
I don't crave for the monastery, I'm not a monk
All i want is to return back home
To stay with folks but not alone
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
I traveled abroad
I had much fun
I visited the queen
She offered me a tea
With all these pleasures
Without doubt cos am so sure
The home holds lot in hand
Treasures, happiness, so much to count
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
I went to Brazil
I saw their windmills
I ate their food
Which made me cool
Delicious was it their fried fish
The one i ate which made me wishing
Then i remember the panla which we eat at home
So delicious and irresistible for the hungry throat
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
I journeyed to Kenya
I saw a tiger
Its eyes scared me
Its claws; waiting for a meal
I rode on an elephant
So huge; so large
I saw lot of things
The zoo, the views
But still i craved
For my home; for my space
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep
I traveled all around the world
And everything seemed so bored
My eyes craved only for my beautiful home
My hands, my mouth and my little nose
They are all wishing to see
My house, my room, my folks in the street
All i have to do is go back home
To stay with folks and sleep on their foams
For wherever you are meant to be
Your home provides a beautiful space to sleep
My home, my home
My sweet, lovely home
I call on thee
Give me a space to sleep.
poem by Yahaya Habeeb Jprof Kayode
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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A Terrible Night
In the sweetest moment
of the night,
when sleep and dreams would
relieve and encompass
conscious thoughts.
I heard a sound.
I was awaken by the sound.
The sound came from the
door and it was lighter than
the tick of the clock.
I rested on the wall.
Hugged myself with a
preambulating heart
that has refuse comfort
because of the quiet sound.
The sound came again.
This time it was rapid.
Sinking me deep in fear,
enveloping me with goose pimple.
Suddenly, the sound stopped.
I stared at the door,
awaiting my fate.
For the night is still young and
deep within i long for dawn.
I waited.
There was nothing. Every
thing was quiet, too quiet.
Except sound from my beating
heart and tickling clock.
My eyes were wide open.
I focused on the door while
my thoughts move to and fro
my past and present deeds.
Oh Lord i cry, forgive me.
Time passed by.
The cock crow, immediately
i had a staggering courage.
I walked slowly to the door,
with immerse fear, i opened it.
With great sigh, i was relieved
though i had lost my sleep.
All this while, i have been
denied a good night by my
neighbour's dog, who was
found sleeping close to my door.
poem by Enebeli Ifyprada
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love Is Only Sleeping
She looked at me
And the emptiness in her eyes was cruel to see
Then she turned away and said,
Once I loved, but love is dead
And I whispered, sometimes love is only sleeping
She said, I cannot cry
And I cannot give or feel or even try
And her voice was hard and cold
Then her sweet young face looked old
And I whispered, sometimes love is only sleeping
Through the endless days and nights
Could not help but wrap herself in sorrow (sorrow)
Through the endless days and nights
She waited for a shiny new tomorrow
Love was sleeping, sleeping
She looked at me
And her smiling tears were warm and sweet and free
And the moonlight kissed her eyes
As it mingled with our sighs
And she whispered, sometimes love is only sleeping
And she whispered, sometimes love is only sleeping
Only sleeping...
song performed by by Monkees
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Uncertain Weather
A day of uncertain weather
Captured in a frame forever
A face in a faded photograph
He must have had a life
Maybe with a family
People who meant everything to him
A sinner, a saint, a soldier
Caught up in a war he never
Had a chance to start or build a life
All gone long ago
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
To become just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
Hopes and fears important plans
Forgotten memories
Footsteps fading in the sand, ooh
Schemes and dreams small and grand
Nothing left to see
Footsteps fading in the sand, ooh
Someone who cast a shadow
Maybe just a lazy man
Doesnt make much difference now its true
A day of uncertain weather
Captured in a frame forever
A face in a faded photograph
All gone long ago
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
To become just a face without a name
One more to add to the total
Of those never heard of again
Yes hes gone
Just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
All gone
Just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind...
song performed by by Genesis
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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No Lullaby
Keep your eyes open and prick up your ears ---
Rehearse your loudest cry.
Theres folk out there who would do you harm
So Ill sing you no lullaby.
Theres a lock on the window; theres a chain on the door:
A big dog in the hall.
But theres dragons and beasties out there in the night
To snatch you if you fall.
So come out fighting with your rattle in hand.
Thrust and parry. light
A match to catch the devils eye. bring
A cross of fire to the fight.
And let no sleep bring false relief
From the tension of the fray.
Come wake the dead with the scream of life.
Do battle with ghosts at play.
Gather your toys at the call-to-arms
And swing your big bear down.
Upon our necks when we come to set
You sleeping safe and sound.
Its as well we tell no lie
To chase the face that cries.
And little birds cant fly
So keep an open eye.
Its as well we tell no lie
So Ill sing you no lullaby.
song performed by by Jethro Tull
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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When I Sleep
When I sleep
Where do I go
I go where
The Blue bird
Is red
Where
Red
Is
Blue
In the head
And the door
Opens on
A red sky
When I sleep
Where do I go
I go where
There is no where there
And the door
Have eyes
To see
Its opening
When I open
My sleep
I am there
Where I am not
And blue drops
Into a red pool
When I sleep
All my theres
Open in the head
And the door
Is blue
And new
And opens nightly
To a where
When I loose
Myself
To all my
Blues and reds
You may think
That I am dead
In my head
But I am much
Alive
When I sleep
Where do I go
I fain not to know.
poem by David E. Patton
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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For The Briar-Rose
The Briarwood.
The fateful slumber floats and flows
About the tangle of the rose;
But lo! the fated hand and heart
To rend the slumberous curse apart!
The Council Room.
The threat of war, the hope of peace,
The Kingdom’s peril and increase
Sleep on, and bide the latter day,
When fate shall take her chain away.
The Garden Court.
The maiden pleasance of the land
Knoweth no stir of voice or hand,
No cup the sleeping waters fill,
The restless shuttle lieth still.
The Rosebower.
Here lies the hoarded love, the key
To all the treasure that shall be;
Come fated hand the gift to take,
And smite this sleeping world awake.
poem by William Morris
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I Cant Sleep
(kathy louvin/mark collie)
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
I close my weary eyes
And see your face
I hold my pillow tight
And dream of your embrace
I know that I could use the rest
But my lonely heart cries out for your caress
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
They say that absence makes a love grow stronger
But I dont believe my empty arms can hold out any longer
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
When youre gone
Theres nothing I can do
But lie awake alone
And dream the whole night through
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
I cant sleep
For dreaming about you
song performed by by Martina Mcbride
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Enthusiasm
I love the old Greek view –
within each of us
the god lies sleeping;
a sweet sleep, full of refreshment,
as snug as a bug in a rug
or Arthur, all his knights around,
under the green hills of Avalon;
we, each of us full of all Olympus;
gods, sleeping as a mother does,
always an ear for the slightest sound
of those they love;
the gods love us,
how could they not
and of those slightest sounds
it’s fire – the fire of speech –
that wakes their might;
they love a stirring speech
and in an instant,
throw all their mighty powers
at the service of the things we truly love –
so, as they work their mighty work,
may go without sleep for days,
drink only the sweet water of our love,
move heaven and earth
to please what pleases them and pleases us;
the good; the true; the beautiful;
how their eyes shine.
sleeping too,
between the pages of the dictionary
and our routined life
is the name by which we call them from their sleep;
the name which they themselves
then roar out a thousand stirring times as loud;
the name by which we know ourselves,
know us as they, and they as us
and as they stir in us
we know ourselves as gods
there is not one of you, of us, who does not know
and recognise its name; our name;
enthusiasm.
the god within
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Im Not Sleeping
(feat. krayzie bone)
Wake up, wake up....
Turn on the water
Close the door
I wont let you tear me down
Just another moment
When the sound of your voice
Cuts me to the ground
Locked in here just to make
Myself feel better
Look in the mirror
And tell myself that Im okay
I know it doesnt matter
Whatever I do
Its always second best
I gotta free my mind
Exactly what you wanted
You opened me up
The secrets I confessed
Wake up, wake up
Im not here just to
Make you feel better
Stroke your ego
Live happy ever after
Im not sleeping
And I aint dreaming
And I aint fooled anymore
Im not sleeping
Just to wake up on the floor
Im not sleeping
Anymore
So many times
I wanted to go
But I just lost my way
Watching you unravelling
The last piece of thread
That held me into place
I dont care if you hear a word
Im saying
I can only hear
The voices screaming in my head
Im not sleeping
And I aint dreaming
And I aint fooled anymore
Im not sleeping
Just to wake up on the floor
Im not sleeping
I done beat your game
But Im not even sleeping no more, Im not even tired
And Im sick of dreaming pain
Tossing and turning all night and waking wide up
Now Im really looking at the door shouldve made this move before
I cant take this anymore
I dont want no more nightmares in the night
No not tonight
I already seen the light
I gotta free my mind
And wake up, wake up
Im not sleeping
And I aint dreaming
And I aint fooled anymore
Wake up
Im not sleeping
Just to wake up on the floor
Im not sleeping
I done beat your game
But Im not even sleeping no more, Im not even tired
Go to wake up
I done beat your game
But Im not even sleeping no more, Im not even tired
Im not sleeping
Just to wake up on the floor
Im not sleeping
Anymore
song performed by by Tiffany
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Japanese lullaby
Sleep, little pigeon, and fold your wings,--
Little blue pigeon with velvet eyes;
Sleep to the singing of mother-bird swinging--
Swinging the nest where her little one lies.
Away out yonder I see a star,--
Silvery star with a tinkling song;
To the soft dew falling I hear it calling--
Calling and tinkling the night along.
In through the window a moonbeam comes,--
Little gold moonbeam with misty wings;
All silently creeping, it asks, "Is he sleeping--
Sleeping and dreaming while mother sings?"
Up from the sea there floats the sob
Of the waves that are breaking upon the shore,
As though they were groaning in anguish, and moaning--
Bemoaning the ship that shall come no more.
But sleep, little pigeon, and fold your wings,--
Little blue pigeon with mournful eyes;
Am I not singing?--see, I am swinging--
Swinging the nest where my darling lies.
poem by Eugene Field
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Dear love, good-night
DEAR love, good-night. And, tender sleep
,Seal up her lids like these drowsed flowers,
To make day fair when they unclose.
Be hushed around her, Night, and keep
Thy silent guard on her repose;
But speed thine hours.
Dear love, sleep on. This weary space
I wake and long for day and thee,
And count the slow stars from their west.
Sleep while I hunger for thy face,
Sleep, dearest, in unbroken rest;
But dream of me.
poem by Augusta Davies Webster
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